PULLING TOGETHER

Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon goals.

Rule 1 PUT THE TEAM FIRST

This requires “we-opic” vision (What’s in it for we?) Challenging step up from the common “me-opic” mindset

Effective team players understand that personal issues and personality differences are secondary to team demands. Cooperation means working together for mutual gain. Sharing responsibility for success and failure and covering for one another.

Rule 2 COMMUNICATE OPENLY AND CANDIDLY

TO EMPOWER A TEAM, BEGIN BY SHARING INFORMATION While timely, candid feedback may not always be pleasant, it is necessary for any team to grow and adapt and to learn quickly from mistakes. We need to communicate with others as clearly as we can to avoid misunderstandings.

Rule 3 BE PART OF THE SOLUTION NOT THE PROBLEM

WANTED HIGH PERFORMANCE TEAM MEMBERS Get involved. Be part of the solution, not the problem. Speak up. Share your ideas. Put the “we” in front of the “me” Volunteer your time and talents.

Stop and Ask Yourself:  What part of the load do you carry  What special gifts, talents and competencies do you offer?  To what extent do you lead and follow effectively?  What is your contributions?  Remember, you do not need permission to be a team player.  No substitute for personal ownership, responsibility and self control.  Accountability breeds quality performance and empowering solutions.

How are you doing in the area of Personal Ownership? Do you accept responsibility for your outcomes? Are you part of your team’s solutions.. Or its problems?

REMEMBER PROBLEMS ARE GOOD WELCOME THEM

Rule 4 RESPECT DIVERSITY

“You have two ears and one mouth. Use them proportionately” Socrates  How well do you listen?  When are you listening?  How well do you understand and value teammates when they disagree with you?  Are you listening with empathy and respecting diverse points of view?  Are you communicating effectively?  Do you have an open, honest, trusting relationship, built on respect?

Rule 5 ASK AND ENCOURAGE THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

If you take a close look at the most successful people in life, you’ll find that their strength is not in having the right answers, but in asking the right questions. John Chancellor

THE ART OF QUESTIONING  What is the team’s mission?  What is the team’s vision?  Who is on board and who is not?  What are the facts  What really matters?  Are you asking the right questions?

Rule 6 USE A RATIONAL PROBLEM-SOLVING PROCESS

 GATHER DATA  REVIEW FACTS  DEFINE PROBLEM  ASK QUESTIONS  WEIGH PROS AND CONS  WHAT WILL WE MEASURE  WHEN WILL WE MEASURE IT  HOW WILL WE MEASURE IT  WHO WILL MEASURE IT

Rule 7 BUILD TRUST WITH INTEGRITY AND EXAMPLE

Trust is a learned behavior, as is distrust, and it is a direct reflection of the team’s leadership. So how do we get people to trust one another? How do we get them to be honest with one another? How do we get team members to treat one another like winners-with value, dignity and respect?

How will your team remember you? Are you learning from your team? Are you putting the team first? Are you a positive role model? How do you know? Does everyone agree?

You must be careful how you walk. And where you go, for there are those following you who will set their feet where yours are set. Robert E. Lee

Rule 8 COMMIT TO EXCELLENCE

Playing it safe does not elevate people to peak performance. We have to dare to get a hit, recognizing that “striking out” is part of the process. Are you stepping up to the plate? Are you putting your heart and soul into your work?

When you look in the mirror, do you see a person COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE A tenacious team member striving for TOTAL QUYALITY We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. Aristotle

Rule 9 PROMOTE INTERDEPENDENT THINKING

BUILD FOR YOUR TEAM A FEELING OF ONENESS, OF DEPENDENCE ON ONE ANOTHER AND OF STRENGTH TO BE DERIVED BY UNITY. Vincent Lombardi

Rule 10 PULL THE WEEDS

“WEEDS”  Refuses to accept rules.  Choses to behave independently of the team  Make their own rules.  Refuses to share and participate.  Shifts responsibility and rejects accountability.  Do not be fooled. Weeds may seem harmless. But a weed cannot be trusted. Beneath the surface, it is doing everything it can to take over your garden.

I AM A MEMBER OF A TEAM, AND I RELY ON THE TEAM, I DEFER TO IT AND SACRIFICE FOR IT, BECAUSE THE TEAM, NOT THE INDIVIDUAL, IS THE ULTIMATE CHAMPION Mia Hamm